The 6 Most Popular Trekking Spots In Saudi Arabia

Trekking is a way to experience the country like you’ve never before. You can’t experience places by just driving by them or hovering over and catching glimpses from the sky; the on foot experience is hands down one of the best places to explore the country’s raw beauty.

Unique geological formations, soaring mountain ranges and diverse geographical terrains make Saudi Arabia one of the finest places for trekking in the region. Don’t picture yourself walking in a jungle here, the trekking scene mostly revolves around escarpments, valleys, mountain peaks and the endless desert accessible through the entire kingdom.

Jabal Abyad and Jabal Bayda

Sitting in the heart of a vast jagged lava field of Harrat Khaybar in the north of Madinah, the barren’s beauty lures trekking lovers. The white colored Jabal Abyad is the tallest volcano in the country and Jabal Bayda is a white ash cone that is a stone’s throw away from it. The two white volcanoes sit next to a third volcano that is stark black and is named the black widow. The sight is a true natural wonder that is best explored on foot.

Edge of the World

Photo Credit: mohsenaldajani.com

Popular amongst Riyadhis, the towering sight lies 96 kilometers to the northwest of Riyadh. The place is located right at the edge of a steep cliff on the Tuwaif Escarpment. There is no way downwards. Upon reaching the edge, your only reasonable solution is to find a flat surface to rest on, a safe distance away from the cliff face. A 4X4 is required for this one as you have to traverse through rough terrain to reach it.

Rijal Alma

Though it may not fall under the conventional definition of trekking as it is more of a walk, the historic village is a magnet for those who love heritage walks in the Kingdom. Situated at the foot of a valley with a hilly milieu in the background, the structures in Rijal Alma are much in the same form as they were a century ago – well at least a good portion still is.

Jabal Dakha

Located in the Ash Shafa village, it is supposedly the highest peak near the city of Taif. To climb this peak you don’t need karabiners, harnesses and all those other fancy climbing gears – a good pair of sneakers would do just fine. There is a road that goes right to the peak, well not exactly to the peak, but still very high up. You can just walk by the road upwards and this in itself is a very arduous task as the road lies at a precipitous angle. And since you’ll be on high altitudes near Taif, you’ll be enjoying the good weather that Taif is famous for.

Wahba Crater

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

The geological formation makes up for a great trek and takes around two hours to trek through. You don’t have to walk around the edge here, there’s a pathway that leads downwards towards the shiny white bed of the crater. Just bear in mind that the trek back up isn’t that easy. You also don’t need a 4X4 for this one, as there is a paved road right till the edge of the crater.

Jabal Baloum

Photo Credit: Mohammed Nawfal

The highest peak in the Tuwaiq range, Jabal Baloum rises around a stark desert landscape. The trekking path is filled with loose gravel and rocks, so you’d want to be extra careful here. Once atop the peak, you can catch beautiful vistas of the valley surrounding the peak. You also might want to take a detour to a large rock nearby that is dotted with ancient rock art.